Wake-riding effect-inspired opto-hydrodynamic diatombot for non-invasive trapping and removal of nano-biothreats

Abstract Contamination of nano-biothreats, such as viruses, mycoplasmas, and pathogenic bacteria, is widespread in cell cultures and greatly threats many cell-based biomanufacturing and therapeutics. However, non-invasive trapping and removal of such biothreats during cell culturing is of great challenge. Here, inspired by wake-riding effect, we report a biocompatible opto-hydrodynamic diatombot (OHD) based on optical trapping navigated rotational diatom (Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin) for non-invasive trapping and removal of nano-biothreats. Combining the wake-riding effect and optical trapping, this rotational OHD enables trapping of bio-targets down to sub-100 nm. Different nano-biothreats, such as adenoviruses, pathogenic bacteria, and mycoplasmas, were first demonstrated to be effectively trapped and removed by the OHD, without affecting culturing cells. The removal efficiency was greatly enhanced via reconfigurable OHD array construction. Importantly, these OHDs show remarkable antibacterial capability, and further facilitate targeted gene delivery. This OHD provides a new method for effective trapping of nano-objects in bio-microenvironment, and serves as a smart micro-robotic platform for non-invasive and active removal of nano-biothreats in cell cultures, with great promises for benefiting cell-based biomanufacturing and single-cell therapy.